Flu deaths hit 132009/08/06
Annie Freeda Cruez
KUALA LUMPUR: As the number of deaths from influenza A (H1N1) in
the country hit 13 and the number of infections continued to climb, the Health Ministry yesterday issued four new directives to combat the spread of the virus.
Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the virus
had hit the community and was no more in clusters, spreading rapidly throughout the country.
He said this was ascertained from information taken from public and private hospitals, and clinics, which have all recorded high numbers of people seeking treatment for fever and cough.
The new directives issued are: those in the high-risk category
(pregnant, obese, asthmatic, diabetic, low immunity and those with heart problems) and who suffer from breathing difficulty should immediately seek medical treatment at the nearest clinic or hospital.
This is important as these patients need to be treated with the anti-viral drug Tamiflu within 48 hours of
showing symptoms.
The treatment can start without laboratory results and Tamiflu is given free;
After getting treatment, the patient must quarantine himself
or herself in the house and have reduced contact and communication with the public, including family members. The patient must adhere to strict personal hygiene and cough
etiquette to avert the spread of the virus; patients who show mild symptoms of the disease must adhere to the advice of the doctor and quarantine themselves to prevent the spread of the virus to others.
If they want to go out, they must wear a “three-ply” surgical mask to avert local transmission; and, members of the public who know of cluster groups of people showing influenza-like illness in schools, institutions, workplaces and communities should contact the nearest Health Department office so as to initiate immediate investigations and control measures to stop or slow down the spread.
They can contact the ministry’s hotline 03-88810200 and 88810300 or visit its website http://www.moh.gov.my and http://h1n1.moh.gov.my
on how to prevent being infected or what measures to adhere to when infected.
Within the last 24 hours, the country reported 16 new confirmed
cases, bringing the total number of cases to 1,476.
The death toll stood at 12.
Coming in the wake of the death of a 3-year-old girl in Malacca on Monday, which was confirmed to be H1N1-related the following day, were the deaths of a 12-year-old boy and a 20-year-old man, also on Monday.
Both were also from Malacca and were confirmed to be H1N1-related yesterday.
The boy, a kidney failure victim on haemodialysis, was admitted to hospital on the same day he died. He had fever, cough and breathing difficulties.
The youth, a chronic asthma sufferer, was admitted on Sunday after complaining of fever, cough and breathing difficulties, which he had since Friday.
“The youth was admitted to the ICU when doctors found him having severe pneumonia,” said Dr Ismail.
Another case involved a 6-year-old boy who died at the Batu Pahat Hospital yesterday.
In Kuantan , Bernama reported that a six-year-old boy died yesterday, the first death from H1N1 in the state.
Mohd Hyafiq Hyafiq Aiman Mohd Saiful Afendi died at the
Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) Hospital at 12.40pm after suffering from pneumonia.
The boy’s mother, identified only as Tia, said her son was
admitted to the hospital on Aug 1.
Pahang Local Government, Environment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun confirmed the death.
Dr Ismail said all the cases reported of late were local
transmissions and this was worrying.
Of the 1,476 cases reported, 1,413 have recovered while 10
are in ICU and 28 receiving treatment in isolation wards.
Dr Ismail said among the 10 in ICU were a person who was
obese, a pregnant woman and a person with low immunity.
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